Accused foster dad called 'innocent . . . great guy'

By Deborah Tetley; With files from Jason van Rassel

A 19-year-old man who lived with a foster parent accused of sex offences against three former foster boys is speaking out for him.

"Deep to my very core, 120 per cent I believe he is innocent," said the teen, who lived in Garry Prokopishin's foster home in 2005, 2006 and part of 2007 -- at the same time as two of the three complainants.

"Garry is a great guy who went out of his way to make sure we all had everything we needed . . . I can't believe that they are dragging his name through the mud like this."

Police filed sex-related charges against Prokopishin, 51, last week, alleging he offered three minors money in exchange for sexual acts between January 2006 and April 2008.

The teen who spoke to the Herald recalls a happy household. He said he never witnessed odd behaviour between Prokopishin and the two alleged victims the teen knew.

He said he spoke with Prokopishin on Friday after he posted bail. The award-winning foster dad told him he would fight the charges.

"I could hear the frustration in his voice," said the teen. The Herald cannot name him under provincial child welfare legislation.

One former foster child who now advocates for kids and parents in the system said officials often wrongly seek problems with screening processes for prospective caregivers.

"It comes down to monitoring -- monitoring is the bigger issue," said John Dunn, executive director of the Foster Care Council of Canada.

Alberta guidelines say foster homes must be checked every three months, and are required to update their licence yearly.

Citing privacy issues, officials won't say how many times they visited Prokopishin's home.